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Back To It! Penguins Game Notes Scouts,& Lines vs. Flyers

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Pittsburgh Penguins Game vs. Philadelphia Flyers

The Pittsburgh Penguins are finished with the All-Star break and bye week and begin the final two months of the season with the second of long-separated home-and-home against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena, Friday. The Penguins, who have points in 11 of their last 14 games (10-3-1) and points in 15 of their last 19,  aren’t concerned with engeance against Philadelphia despite a flatline 3-0 loss before the break.

PPG has served the Penguins well as they have points in seven of their last nine home games against the Philadelphia dating back to Jan. 21, 2016. Overall, they hold points in four of its last five games against Philadelphia (2-1-2)

Tristan Jarry will start in net for the Penguins. Jarry has lost his last two starts and is 3-3-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in January. He’s been a lot better on home-ice but his road numbers remain pedestrian, going 6-5-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .919 SV% in 11 appearances. Philadelphia will turn to Brian Elliott, who shutout the Penguins on Jan 21.

The Penguins stumbled in the unofficial end of halfway point of the season with a 3-0 shutout loss at the hands and knees of Philadelphia, last Tuesday. The usually potent Penguins attack could only manage 19 shots on net while not converting on three power-play chances. After a scoreless first period, the stage seemed set for a slugfest that has become typical of the team’s recent matchup history. Philadelphia struck first 5:26 second into the second period as Jakub Voracek continued to haunt the Penguins. Voracek made a pretty move to his backhand to deposit the team’s first score. Voracek’s goal set the pace for the rest of the period as Philadelphia would add on. Less than two minutes left in the period, James Van Riemsdyk received a nice pass from Travis Konecny and fired the puck through the five-hole to cap off a dominating period.

Down by two to start the third, the Penguins kicked the period off with hope but could never match Philadelphia’s physicality and went quietly into the night without scoring a goal. Philadelphia iced the game late after the Penguins pulled the goalie for an extra attacker. Offseason acquisition Justin Braun (3) found the yawning net with a minute left to give his team their fourth win in five games. Tristan Jarry drew the start in net for the Penguins and faired pretty well despite the loss. Jarry stopped 27 of 29 shots and helped keep the game scoreless in the first with several top-shelf saves. Brian Elliott earned the win with a 19 saves performance for his first shutout of the year.

You can read more in Dan’s Recap and the PHN Extra Report Card.

Notes

Anthony Angello was called up on Thursday morning and is looking to make his NHL debut. At the AHL level, Angello led WBS in goals (16) and was tied for second in assists (9) at his time of recall. He has 14 points (7G-7A) over his last 14 AHL games

Over the All-Star Break, the Penguins got a boost to their defensive unit when Justin Schultz was activated off of injured reserve. Schultz has missed the last 16 games, beginning on Dec. 20, with a lower-body injury. At the time of his injury, his eight points (2G-6A)ranked fourth among Penguins’ defensemen.

Evgeni Malkin has 70 career points (27G-43A) in 57 career games against Philadelphia. Only teammate Sidney Crosby (102PTS in69GP) has more points versus Philadelphia among all active players.

Scouts

Injuries

Pittsburgh Penguins

Nick Bjugstad (Core Muscle, skating)

Brian Dumoulin (Ankle, IR)

Dominik Kahun (Concussion)

Philadelphia Flyers

Nolan Patrick (Migraine disorder)

Sam Morin (Knee, out for season)

Oskar Lindblom (Ewing’s sarcoma, out for season) Braun (groin, day-to-day)

Shayne Gostisbehere (Knee, three weeks)

Carter Hart (Lower abdominal strain, 2-3 weeks)

Special Teams

TEAMPower PlayPenalty Kill
Pittsburgh Penguins24.1% (7-29, 11th)72% (7-25, 28th)
Vancouver Canucks22.2% (6-27, 17th)60% (10-25, 32nd)

Penguins Lines

LWCRW
Jake GuentzelSidney CrosbyBryan Rust
Jason ZuckerEvgeni MalkinRickard Rakell
Danton HeinenRyan PoehlingKasperi Kapanen
Brock McGinnSam PoulinDrew O'Connor
LDRD
Brian DumoulinKris Letang
Marcus PetterssonJeff Petry
P.O JosephJan Rutta
Goalie
Tristan Jarry
Casey DeSmith

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